Activity and Services Review Enters Stage Two

Solid progress is being made in the review of Council services and their costs.

Stage one of the review is complete, with working parties now making further investigations into specific areas of the Council’s operations.

The results of the Activity and Services Review will now be reported in February next year – in time to be part of the preparation of the 2013/14 Annual Plan.

Says Mayor Harry Duynhoven: “We have involved independent experts in the reviews of service delivery options, levels of service and capital expenditure, and this work continues.”

The scope of the review entails examining:

• Whether the Council should continue to be involved in all of its current activities and services.
• The appropriateness of current levels of service, including those that underpin asset management plans.
• Potential alternative service delivery options for activities and services. These include in-house, business units, council-controlled organisation (CCO) trusts, contracting, shared services and corporatisation.
• A detailed analysis of financial information and budgets.

 

With regards to levels of service, the review has identified potential opportunities for savings in parks, roading, water, recreation and events, and Puke Ariki. These opportunities are being investigated further.

For service delivery, some longer-term opportunities have been identified within roading – these will be considered next year.

A review is under way of the entire capital expenditure (CAPEX) programme – i.e. the programme of planned projects to build new or upgraded Council infrastructure during the next 10 years. If the CAPEX review comes up with recommendations for substantial changes to the works programme, an amendment to the Long-Term Plan in 2013 as well as an Annual Plan may be required.

The Council is also undertaking an in-depth investigation of renewals funding, and looking again at the Council’s overall Financial Strategy and its link with the Perpetual Investment Fund.

“So far the review has involved discussion with the Council through workshops and working parties. No decisions are made in these meetings,” says the Mayor.

“When a report is made to the Council in February next year, decisions will be made on what proposals for change will need to be consulted on with the community through the Annual Plan process. Final decisions on these proposals will be made in June 2013, after public consultation is completed.

“Some ideas may require more in-depth investigation and may not be a part of this process,” he says.